How To Care For A Dog’s Tongue
If your dog can’t or won’t bring her tongue inside her mouth to moisten it on occasion, then you need to take a few extra steps to care for your dog’s tongue.
Only your vet can accurately determine whether your dog has Hanging Tongue Syndrome or not, and whether she is in pain from it or not.
To ensure that your dog’s tongue does not become too dry or cracked you can do the following:
Take the time to regularly inspect your dog’s tongue looking for changes in texture, color, size, or bleeding. If you notice any of these things, take your dog to the vet right away, because they could signal deeper issues — such as an infection or neurological problems.
If your dog’s tongue hangs outside of his mouth, then you’ll need to closely monitor your dog’s time spent outdoors because…
Causes of Dry Mouth in Dogs and Cats
Dry mouth has numerous causes in dogs and cats. Dehydration or a fever can result in dry mouth, but the sensation should resolve once the underlying problem is dealt with. People often complain about dry mouth when taking different types of medications, and sometimes owners will notice pets licking their lips or smacking their gums when they are on the same types of drugs. It’s probably safe to assume that animals experience dry mouth under these circumstances, too. Commonly used veterinary drugs that could be expected to lead to dry mouth in pets include antihistamines, decongestants, diuretics, sedatives, atropine, anesthetic agents, and many (many) more. If your dog or cat seems to be annoyed by a sensation of dry mouth after being given a pet medication, talk to your veterinarian about the possibility of decreasing the dosage or switching to a different drug.
But several other causes of dry mouth in pets aren’t quite as straightforward to treat. Let’s take a look at these and what can be done to prevent the discomfort and complications that can be associated with dry mouth in pets:
Radiation Treatment
Radiation treatment for cancers of the head and neck that damages the salivary glands is a common cause of dry mouth in people. Since radiation treatment is being used more frequently in veterinary medicine, cases of dry mouth in pets could be expected to rise, too. Radiation-induced dry mouth may be permanent or temporary.
Immune-Mediated Disorders
Dry mouth can also be caused by the pet’s immune system attacking the salivary glands. In a condition that resembles Sjögrens syndrome in people, pets can develop both dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) and dry mouth due to an abnormal immune reaction directed against both tear and salivary glands. Medications that suppress the immune system (e.g., cyclosporine, prednisone, and prednisolone) can be used to improve a pet’s production of saliva in these cases.
Dysautonomia
Dysautonomia (also called Key-Gaskell syndrome) is caused by degeneration of nerves within a certain part of the nervous system. The cause has not yet been identified. Pets with dysautonomia can develop dry mouth as well as poor appetite, vomiting, pupils that don’t respond to light normally, elevation of the third eyelid, dehydration, constipation, difficulty eating and urinating, poor tear production, and a slow heart rate. Treating the symptoms of dysautonomia can make pets feel better for a period of time but most are eventually euthanized due to poor quality of life.
Nerve Damage
Dry mouth is also possible when the nerves that control the salivary glands are damaged. This may occur because of traumatic injury, surgery, a tumor that is growing in or around the nerves, infections (possibly in the middle ear), etc. Sometimes this type of dry mouth will develop in conjunction with neurogenic keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS or dry eye). While most cases of KCS occur because of an abnormal immune reaction, a minority develop because of nerve damage. The nerves that run to the tear glands and salivary glands are close to each other, so something that damages one can easily damage the other.
Xerostomia in Dogs: What Is Dry Mouth?
Dog drool may seem gross at times, but it is a sign that your dog is producing saliva. Saliva helps keep a dogs mouth comfortable. If youre not seeing any slobbering and your dogs mouth seems to be dry, your four-legged companion may have dry mouth, also known as xerostomia. Without liquid washing over the teeth to keep them clean, this condition can cause bad breath in both dogs and people. Its not always painful, but xerostomia in dogs can affect swallowing and eating. Besides bad breath, dogs with dry mouth may have sticky, dry-feeling gums, notes Wag!.
It is important to monitor your dog from head to toe on a regular basis. During a wellness visit you may want to ask your veterinarian about normal levels of saliva. If he has dog dry mouth, is it related to his breed, age, diet or something more serious? If your dogs bad breath and dry mouth seems to be getting worse or causing your pet to act differently, then a special trip to the vet is a good idea. Its always better to be safe than sorry, so if something just doesnt seem right, schedule an appointment as soon as you can.